Three HAIKUs of the Bon
Three HAIKUs of the BonThe summer festivalFlowery hair ornamentsswing like big wavesDon't forget that'scaused by the leader's dull sleep;Huge flames flowerThe spirits of ourancestors leave only one votive egg-apple on the altar【Note】: In japanese tradition of buddhist's memorial service for their ancestors, in summer, that's called Bon or Obon and also Urabon-e, they prepare an altar with meny offerings, --flowers, cakes, fruits, vegetables, and candles, paper lanterns. Among those offerings, there are a cucumber with four short sticks imitated a horse and an egg-apple imitated a cow that the spirits of ancestors use them to carry the offerings when the spirits return to the heven. And when the Bon has finished the buddhist lets flow the offerings to a river or to the sea.--------------------------------------------Copyright (c) 2008 Tadami Yamada. All Rights Reserved.